Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to barbell and dumbbell support systems that allow for a user to perform exercises without requiring movement of the body of the user from the proximity of weight support assemblies when weights are in use. Weight support systems include extendable arm assemblies for the holding and positioning of barbells or dumbbells in a location conducive to performing exercises. Extendable arm assemblies automatically retract when a user removes the barbell or dumbbells from the assemblies, allowing the user to perform the intended exercise without moving away from the system. The retracted position of the extendable arm assemblies allows the user to replace the weights without the assistance of others at the conclusion of the exercise.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to barbell and dumbbell support systems that allow for a user to perform exercises without requiring movement of the body of the user from the proximity of weight support assemblies when weights are in use. Weight support systems include extendable arm assemblies for the holding and positioning of barbells or dumbbells in a location conducive to performing exercises. Extendable arm assemblies automatically retract when a user removes the barbell or dumbbells from the assemblies, allowing the user to perform the intended exercise without moving away from the system. The retracted position of the extendable arm assemblies allows the user to replace the weights without the assistance of others at the conclusion of the exercise.

Abstract: A beam (38) of electromagnetic radiation deflected by a moving mirror plate (56) of a micromachined scanner (54) produces a two dimensional ("2D") raster (132) on a scanned surface (28) of a block (34). The block (34) is transparent to electro-magnetic radiation of pre-established wavelengths. A radiation inlet-face (36) of the block (34) admits the beam (38) that then impinges on the scanned surface (28) to exit the block (34) through a radiation outlet-face (42). After exiting the block (34), the beam (38) impinges upon a radiation detector (142). Total internal reflection ("TIR") of the beam (38) from the scanned surface (28) at fingerprint valleys and frustration of TIR at fingerprint ridges causes the radiation detector (142) to produce a time-varying electrical signal that represents the fingerprint. The scanned surface (28) may be formed by a patch (302) of resilient material, that may be tinted to be transparent only at the pre-established wavelength of the electro-magnetic radiation.

Abstract: Two torsion bars project from a reference member to support at least one plate or frame-shaped first dynamic member for rotation about an axis of the torsion bars. In one embodiment, a frame-shaped first dynamic member and a second pair of torsion bars, oriented non-parallel to the first torsion bars, support a second dynamic member for rotation about an axis that is collinear with the second pair of torsion bars. The vibrational frequency of the principal torsional vibrational mode of the dynamic members are respectively lower by at least 20% than the vibrational frequency of any other vibrational mode thereof. Either an electrostatic or electromagnetic drive means imparts rotary motion to the dynamic members about the collinear torsion bar axis(es). The reference member, the torsion bars and the dynamic member(s) are all monolithically fabricated from a stress-free semiconductor layer of a silicon substrate.

Abstract: An improved micromachined structure used for beam scanners, gyroscopes, etc. includes a reference member from which project a first pair of axially aligned torsion bars. A first dynamic member, coupled to and supported from the reference member by the torsion bars, oscillates in one-dimension about the torsion bar's axis. A second dynamic member may be supported from the first dynamic member by a second pair of axially aligned torsion bars for two-dimensional oscillation. The dynamic members respectively exhibit a plurality of vibrational modes each having a frequency and a Q. The improvement includes means for altering a characteristic of the dynamic member's frequency and Q. Coupling between dynamic members permits altering the second dynamic member's frequency and Q by techniques applied to the first dynamic member. Some techniques disclosed also increase oscillation amplitude or reduce driving voltage, and also increase mechanical ruggedness of the structure.

Abstract: A transmissometer for measuring a volume attenuation coefficient of a column of water, including a transmissometer housing; a light source, producing an optical light beam; a Y-splitter, splitting the optical light beam into two light beams within the transmissometer housing; a pressure proof connector and two optical fibers, routing the two light beams outside the transmissometer housing; two collimators for collimating outputs of the two optical fibers prior to transmission through the column of water; a reflecting prism, reflecting the outputs of the two collimators back into the transmissometer housing via a sensor view port where a distance between a first of the two collimators and the reflecting prism is R1 and a distance between a second of the two collimators and the reflecting prism is R2; two detectors for detecting intensities I1 and I2 of the two light beams reflected by the reflecting prism; and a processor for determining the volume attenuation coefficient of the column of water according to:.

Abstract: A CCD imaging camera is adaptively controlled by: illuminating a reflectance field of view, selectively sensing a desired image field area within the field of view and generating an image signal thereof, reducing low frequency components of the sensed area image signal, generating a contrast signal from the image signal, generating an average or mean signal from a plurality of image contrast signals, comparing the mean signal with a reference signal corresponding to a predetermined contrast maximum value, and thereafter controlling the light level or the range of the camera to the object field.